Flashing Brake Light System

摘要

A vehicle having left and right lower rear brake lights and a Center High-Mounted Stop Light (CHMSL) flashes the CHMSL when the brakes are initially applied. The lower brake lights do not automatically flash. After a predetermined duration, the CHMSL remains continuously illuminated until the brakes are removed. In an effort to improve on the design referenced by U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,218, a micro-controller circuit is configured to be activated when brakes are applied. Once activated, internal embedded micro code produce a predetermined number cycles of an oscillating output signal that is responsible for causing the CHMSL to flash. After the numbers of cycles have been completed, the embedded micro code forces the output signal to remain in a state that causes the CHMSL to stay illuminated until the brakes have been removed.

主权项

1. In a vehicle having an upper light and lower lights viewable from behind said vehicle, said upper and lower lights serving as indicators for braking, a method of operating said upper and lower lights comprising the steps of:
a) continuously activating said lower lights upon application of brakes; b) initiating a flashing mode of operating said upper light upon the activation of said vehicle brakes; c) waiting a predetermined duration; and d) continuously activating said upper light after said predetermined duration when said vehicle brakes remain applied; e) deactivating said upper and lower lights upon removal of said brakes; f) continuously activating said upper and lower lights upon re-application of said brakes if the previous deactivation period was less than a predetermined delay period; g) re-initiating said flashing mode of operating said upper light upon the re-application of said brakes after said delay period.